If there is a recipe to achieving a balance between a garden that is easy on the eye and one that is child-friendly, it starts with simple rules. Use plants that can survive all seasons and most importantly is resilient.
Design some interesting spaces, different areas to sit, hidden spots for the children to discover and hide in. Use plants with interesting textures and colours or unusually shaped leaves, and find space to grow a few simple edibles that don’t require huge amounts of expertise. Encourage wildlife into the garden by selecting that produce edible fruit and seeds. I’ve yet to meet a child that isn’t fascinated by wild nature.
Below is a list of plants that are great for the use around kids and are low maintenance indoor and outdoor plants.Â
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Kid-safe plants
PLANTS TO AVOID
In general, avoid plants that:
- Attract large numbers of stinging insects
- Commonly cause allergic reactions
- Have spikes, thorns or toxic parts
- Exude a milky sap – it is usually irritant
- When mature may affect underground drainage systems or overhead wires
- Require a lot of pruning or maintenance
- May overtake your garden or become bushland invaders
POTENTIAL RUNAWAYS i.e. tend to overgrow
Trees:
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Groundcovers/Vines:
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Best plants to start growing in different times of the year (click on link to get list)
Great sources of information:
http://www.kidsafensw.org/imagesDB/wysiwyg/GROWMESAFELY-PlantstoAvoid_2014_1.pdf
https://blog.fantasticgardenersmelbourne.com.au/safe-indoor-plants-children
